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Bringing urban lifestyle to the village through WHH

I am Esnath Magadhi from Simbe in Njelele 3. Looking back in my life I never thought I would own property and assets like a four roomed house, a set of sofas, five cows just to mention a few. People in Njelele 3 used to mock at me for staying in the grass thatched huts made of dagga and poles. With the coming of Welthungerhilfe there is a complete turn - around in the lifestyle I am now living. From the picture above one can easily see that I no longer envy people who stay in town because they have some mortgages to pay but with me I leave freely and happily in the rural area. I also possess the furniture and equipment which is more or less similar to that owned by the town dwellers. Thumps up to WHH and EU who introduced me to conservation farming, market linkages and ROSCAs. I have been able to save money through the savings group, I am also now engaged in contract farming of sesame of which IETC the Sesame buyer has prices which farmers in my village appreciate. In 2016 I received US$460 after selling my sesame produce. I do not need a big piece of land for a high yield, my conservation agriculture plot is sufficient enough all crops. I am looking forward to a better yield this season because I’m practising conservation agriculture principles.

I am also a member in farmer field school groups. This means that my farm produce is readily marketed and I receive money which I use for my day to day up keep. I can now plan for my yearly activities from January to December, from land preparation to planting, harvesting, grain banking and marketing farm produce. Then nutrition gardens preparation, planting and harvesting of produce, then CHC component thus improving my house hold set-up using some of the funds that I would have banked and that I get from on -going income generating projects. I have a tight schedule all year round all because of WHH.

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Boschveld chicken are making a difference in the lives of Gokwe families.

Mirriam Taonesa is a widow with five children, the first one doing form one (8th grade) whilst the rest are still at primary level. She resides at Njelele 3, Taonesa cluster in Makia village. The widow joined SIMBA as an adopter member in 2015 and is one of those benefited from the Boshveld programme. Mirriam was one of the poorest widow in the village. The Boshveld intervention changed her life when she started selling Boshveld eggs. At first she was picking an average of 21 eggs per day, 147 per week which filled 12 dozens. When the egg production rate rose, the widow then supplied primary school teachers for the neighbouring school. Payment plans were arrived at and this showed that eggs were supplied on credit thus the teachers would pay using eco-cash after receiving salaries. Mirriam used the money to buy three goats, keep broilers and the rest to pay tuition fee for her all children. “I have never dreamt of this kind of life, had no hope, I thought all my children would die in poverty, but alas, now I can afford two meals a day,” cried Taonesa Mirriam. The farmer went on to narrate that, “Besides my family is now leaving a healthy life all because of SIMBA. I would like to thank E.U for all that they have done to change my life. I have heard and read that all the funds are donated by E.U.” Mirriam is one of the adopters who dragged more farmers to join SIMBA.